Nakano Castle (Chiisagata)

History

For more information see Chiisagata Nishiyama Castle.

Visit Notes

Of the three forts in the Nishiyamajō Fort Group, the Nakanojō is the one which most looks like a castle ruin. The main bailey is just a small mountain peak, on which it is presumed some kind of look-out or signal tower was built, but below there is terracing with a large ditch running down the hill to the side. At the top of the ditch the earth is banked up. These features could be taken for a tatebori (climbing trench), dobashi (earthen bridge) and multiple koshikuruwa (terraced baileys). However, these earthworks could've been made by farmers cultivating the hillside at a much later time. The tatebori could be a drainage channel. I struggle to imagine why a drain would be so wide, and so perhaps there is an alternative explanation. Nevertheless, considering the lack of convincing ruins at any of the other supposed Unno Clan forts, it seems these features could be a mirage. I am reminded of bigfoot. Take a photo of the forest. People who want to see bigfoot will, upon the mere suggestion of his presence in the foliage, surely see him somewhere. And yet this is a castle ruin according to the local education board and Miyasaka Takeo, a legend of castle exploration in Nagano.

Gallery

Terraced ledge

Castle Profile
English Name	Nakano Castle (Chiisagata)
Japanese Name	小県中ノ城
Founder	Unno Clan
Year Founded	1330
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Kuruwa, Dobashi, Tatebori
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Ueda Sation on the Shinano Railway; bus to Kamishina; 20 minute walk to Sumiyoshi
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	20 minutes
Location	Ueda, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 25' 21.14" N, 138° 17' 0.13" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2022
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
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